November 20, 2017

Style Meets Art

From shimmer and sparkle to quirky and minimalist, Stylefile, the most awaited shopping carnival in Kolkata put together by Preeti Goenka and Sumedha Saraogi had something for everybody. The shopping carnival, which was held at the rooftop of the Quest Mall last season shifted to The Old Bungalow, at Alipore and was an out-an-out winner in arts and fashion. With an array of 20 designers and eight well-known artists with their beautiful artworks, the event was brimming with mindboggling designs and head-turning artworks and accessories.

Yes, tradition came with a twist and it is here to stay. So here’s looking at some of the designers who tapped the rich Indian textile heritage and shone bright.

Boho-chic girl

Asmita Marwa at Stylefile November 2017

For ultra-stylish holidaymakers Hyderabad based designer Asmita Marwa had loads of cheerful prints and bright coloured separates. The colour palette ranged from whites, blacks, mustards to reds and cobalt blues. A variety of baggy tunics worn over capris, toga saris, ponchos and maxis in crepe, chiffon and cotton constituted her line.

Festival ready

Clean lines and effortlessly chic seem to be the mantra for designer duo Ankur and Priyanka Modi with their brand AM.PM. Their couture lines ‘Pishtaq’ (inspired by the Taj) and ‘Elili’ (beautiful in Tamil) had luxurious fabrics and clean silhouettes. From embroidered jackets to pleated asymmetrical skirts in raw silk to draped tunics, their Europe-meets-India line screamed elegance and sophistication. And if you have been crushing on Alia Bhatt’s olive green kurta by AM.PM at Gauri Khan’s Mumbai store opening, you know now where to take inspiration from.

Old is gold

Designer Jayanti Reddy was truly inspired by glamour of the bygone era as was evident in her collection. Opulent lehengas, jackets, shararas, blouses, shawls, tunics and pants comprised her collection. Her biggest USP has been the use of gold embellishments which looked rich and opulent and added a royal touch.

Playful and feminine

Shriya Som’s ‘The Vignette’ line had graceful yet playful body-con creations, ruffle and midi-dresses along with crop tops and faux fur jackets. Som used fabrics like tulle and sheer silk to bring out the feminine details in pastel hues like ivory, blush pink and tones of grey. Complex cutwork techniques and intricate lace work completed the sartorial pieces.

Heritage reimagined

Designer Amit Aggarwal whose creations are worn by Kajol and Sonakshi Sinha is all for sustainability and dying handloom techniques. He breathed new life into old Patola saris which have lost its charm with time and use. He has used old torn Patola saris (by using industrial treatments with pleating and weaving with manmade yarns) and strategically placed in his couture line of capes, drapes and hems.

Texture details

The designer duo Pankaj and Nidhi showcased a monochromatic palette of black and white with splashes of blue. Their ‘Telefunk’ line combined pattern on pattern and checkered prints in fabrics like mesh and honeycomb jerseys. The line had peplums with motifs and tops with bell sleeves, square cape tops and voluminous jackets. Long and short sleeves could also be seen with lots of layering. The highlight of the collection was surface texturing in the form of oversized embellishments, fringe details and leather appliqués.

Wedding Story

Nachiket Barve’s bridal line called ‘Theia’ has been inspired by the Greco-Roman Goddesses with delicate embroidery and fine detailing. The designer worked with Roman drapes such as the toga and then brought in panelled skirts, cowled pants, flowing lehengas and long trailing capes.  The colour palette ranged from indigo, black and burgundy and moved to splashes of gold, bronze and pewter. The embroidery was traditional with appliqués, cutwork along with zaari and zardosi work.

Edgy and sophisticated

The Chennai based designer Vivek Karunakaran’s line is heavily influenced by South Indian textiles and aesthetics. His menswear line was all about sophisticated yet edgy clothes. Pop picks included palazzos for men, pin-tucked wing collar shirts, asymmetric bandis layered over long shirts, jersey fitted cigarette pants and suspenders.

Accessories Love

While Kolkata based Duet Luxury by Priyanka Baid and Shruti Bansal had bags made of recycled wood, leather and acrylic, men’s accessories had bow ties and lapel pins. Their hotsellers included recycled wooden bags, vanity cases and poker boxes.  On the other hand, Mumbai based Sangeeta Khanna’s destination wedding jewellery ‘Taara’ made of pearls with semi-precious stones flew off the shelves. Meanwhile, Mumbai based Isharya by Gauri and Radhika Tandon had vibrant offerings for the jet-setting woman. Think chic cocktail rings, jewel-encrusted cuffs and dramatic chandelier earrings.

So take cues from these designers and revamp your wardrobe for the party season. And for more such wonderful stuff, wait for the next season of Stylefile in 2018!